Untouchable by Marii Solaria

Chapter 83 – Well Overdue Pt. 1

“My guilt is an ocean for me to drown in.“–Nicola Yoon

Kiya

“Mija, please. Eat something.”

“I’m not hungry, Dad.”

“When was the last time you’ve eaten?”

“I don’t remember.”

On cue, my stomach growled like a ravenous bear, gnawing for nourishment. I knew Dad and my friends could hear it, but I didn’t have the energy to care. The smell of my favorite foods both pleased and nauseated me and the age ol‘ fear of vomiting it back up settled in the center of my mind. I don’t know if I could eat after all. that had happened.

Dad’s arm snaked around my shoulders, his wide hand pushing my head to rest on his shoulder. So warm. Worry drenched his pumpkin scent. How could he not be? This was the first time since my kidnapping where I sat and spoke with him. My friends, as wonderful as they were, helped me to get out of that dreadful dress Osiris gave me and brought my pajamas after I’ve showered. Despite the smooth cotton textile of my lavender set, I felt cold.

So cold.

“If you won’t eat, at least drink something.” Galen held up a cup filled with a green liquid with black pearls. swimming at the bottom. He punched a hole through the plastic top with a straw. “Avocado boba tea. You never pass up boba tea!”

His dark eyes twinkled with hope as he waited for me to take it. I didn’t. Nothing looked appealing for consumption. I shook my head and burrowed my face deep in Dad’s shoulder, wishing I’d just disappear off the fact of the earth. Galen sighed in defeat, settling the tea away.

Frigid chill wasn’t the sole sensation I was feeling. The snake emblem ‘tattooed on my right arm faded into washed–out colors compared to its former vibrancy hours before, as if it was withering away. It was disgusting. That symbol that connected me to Osiris, and I wanted to vomit stomach acid. My hatred for the bastard burned strong, like lava simmering under the unstable layer of a volcano. He did this to me. He put

this on me.

I almost wanted to carve it out of my skin. Fuck the damages.

The bed Dad and I were sitting on dipped behind me, and two strong arms snaked around my torso. A pathetic whimper echoed from my mouth as a warm head rested on my upper back, the scent of orange blossoms tickling both my nose and my joy. “You know you can talk to us, right?” Jackie asked. “We won’t judge you.”

They should be! I killed people and showed no remorse at doing so. My friends witnessed me tear Zircon Moon into shreds with a grin on my face, cheeks smeared with blood, and laughing. I became a riant maniac with eyes bleeding blood. How are they sitting here, wanting to take care of me after knowing all of this?

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Chapter 53 Well Overdue Pt. 1

Aren’t they scared? Why aren’t they hating me? Where is the anger and frustration?

Goddamnit, this shit doesn’t make sense!

A gentle knock resounded through the bedroom, capturing our attention. Violetta poked her head through the crack, offering a meager smile. “Am I interrupting anything?”

Sapphire shook her head. “No, you aren’t. What’s up?”

Sea–green eyes met mine. “Neron wants to talk to you. Do you mind?”

Fear bubbled up in my chest, my head shooting up from Dad’s shoulder. Why would he? I knew we had to talk, but I didn’t think it would be so soon. How would he react when seeing me? I damn near killed him! Who’d want to speak to their attempted murderer?

phantom hands tickling my arms and caressing my ear. “You both need this. There are a lot of things you both. need

H

“But-”

not having any of that. Talk to

I

plaguing my heart. Would Neron look at me the same way he did before? Would he view me as a killer, something his father proclaimed in his dying

don’t want him to look at me like he used to, full of malice and contempt. This time, there was a definite reason he

run. That

a small smile he didn’t retum with Lady Sanguine in the first place.

“Can you handle it?”

have some privacy, Dad?”

“Yes. I’ll mind–link you if I

straightening my hair for a while after this. “Okay. I’ll leave you to it.” He looked at my friends and pointed his head to the door, gesturing for them to leave. Galen and Jacqueline whined a bit, wanting to

shortly after, closing the door

room deafening. I felt his eyes staring into my temple as I gazed down in my lap, fascinated by my

at least we broke the

if I sit next to

no, but I couldn’t bring myself to. A deep part of me wanted him near, while the other warned of approaching danger; that same part that lived and breathed during my captivity. I pushed the latter down as far as I could. This wasn’t

like that for a moment, silent, uncertain who would make the first

aren’t good at

החלקתה החריך

hummed. “Are

am

top, no doubt covering the rest of the wounds indicted on him. They shouldn’t be there. He’ll end up having scars like me. I’m feeling a little better. You don’t have

“Okay,”

answered my question.” He shifted his body

“No.”

on the

around with the baggage I have could claim to be a sane person. An invisible weight resoad in my palms in the hits shape of the life snatching blade I weld. The weight solidithed when thesed my fingers, my brain tricking

i

a siren song, growing in pitch while the memories of my chaos flashed before my eyes. Blood, blood, and more blood Skin tearing to reveal the hidden

Goddess, the screaming Crying Begging I can even taste the blood of the victims on my tongue, a violent reminder of the monster

asked, tearing my eyes from my palms to stare into Neron’s

me

You shouldn’t be sitting as close to me as you are now. What Is and decide to

Neron began. “If you wanted to kill me on this bed you would’ve done it by now. You have the god- like power to stuff my life

before I killed

Tristan before

when I cut into Odessa’s throat rang in my ears, along with the deathly gurgles of Elder Sage’s death. Each death barbered a distinct sound I remembered as clear as

exacted revenge.

confused Neron. We’re in the aftermath of that insanity,

an by that?”

He chuckled. “What do you mean by

bolting through my body. “You

sitting here if I looked at you differently, Kiya. Give it your

silence. Fluttering my eyes closed, I sucked in a strong, trembling breath to stop the tears from dripping. “I don’t feel guilty for killing Odessa and the others. I can’t find it in me, and that scares